Governance

The NCRC is committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance to ensure full transparency in how we operate. We are fully compliant with all relevant Irish Charity legislation and regulatory frameworks.

The NCRC is committed to the governance standards set out in The Governance Code for the Community, Voluntary and Charitable Sector in Ireland.

The Board Members, by joining the NCRC Board, agree to comply with the NCRC Corporate Governance Philosophy, Code of Conduct, Code of Governance, processes and procedures, including the Board and Committee Terms of Reference, as detailed in the NCRC Board Corporate Governance Manual (pdf). Members of the Board Directors serve in an entirely voluntary capacity and do not receive any pay or remuneration.

The NCRC is fully committed to performing to the highest standards of Governance and is compliant with The Governance Code for Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisation. For more information please visit http://www.governancecode.ie/

The Principles of the Code are as follows:

1. Leading our organisation

We do this by agreeing our vision, purpose, mission, values, and objectives, making sure that they remain relevant; Developing, resourcing, monitoring, and evaluating a plan so that our organisation achieves its stated purpose and objectives; Managing, supporting, and holding to account, staff, volunteers, and all who act on behalf of the organisation.

2. Exercising control over our organisation

We do this by identifying and complying with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements; Making sure there are appropriate internal financial and management controls; Identifying major risks for our organisation, and deciding ways of managing the risks.

3. Being transparent and accountable

We do this by identifying those who have a legitimate interest in the work of our organisation (stakeholders) and making sure there is regular and effective communication with them about our organisation; Responding to stakeholder’s questions or views about the work of our organisation, and how we run it; Encouraging and enabling the engagement of those who benefit from our organisation in the planning and decision-making of the organisation.

4. Working effectively

We do this by making sure that our governing body, individual board members, committees, staff and volunteers understand their: role, legal duties, and delegated responsibility for decision-making; Making sure that as a board we exercise our collective responsibility through board meetings that are efficient and effective; Making sure that there is suitable board recruitment, development and retirement processes.

5. Behaving with integrity

We do this by being honest, fair, and independent; Understanding, declaring, and managing conflicts of interest and conflicts of loyalties; Protecting and promoting our organisation’s reputation.

The NCRC incorporated as a separate legal entity in October 2014; however, it remains almost fully dependant on the Children’s Medical and Research Foundation (CMRF) for funding. The CMRF provides funding to both the NCRC and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin to support investment in Paediatric Research and assets for the Hospital.